Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
Her Majesty's Government whether the MOD maintains a record of accidents with an International Nuclear Radiological Event Scale rating of 1 or more which have occurred in the defence nuclear programme.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Maintaining nuclear safety within Defence is paramount and continuously assessed. It is independently regulated in accordance with legislative requirements by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and, where exempt, by the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) independent nuclear regulator, the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR). All events, incidents and near misses are recorded across the full spectrum of International Atomic Energy Agency Nuclear Event Scale ratings. Each nuclear licensed and authorised site is required to maintain records and demonstrate learning as part of the routine regulatory engagement process.
The MOD also has Ministerial Reporting Criteria for nuclear events which align with those used by the civil sector. As well as Defence Ministers, the reporting criteria requires the MOD to inform, as appropriate, the ONR, the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. In addition, any events are routinely discussed with established Local Liaison Committees. I can reassure the noble Baroness that MOD nuclear programme activities are demonstrably well within accepted civil nuclear safety standards. I can confirm that since 2000 events and incidents have not challenged these standards and that the health of the public, the environment, and our workers remain safe. The MOD is not complacent and all incidents assessed as having safety significance are fully analysed to establish the root cause and measures put in place to prevent recurrence.
Further information can be found in the annual DNSR Reports publications, and copies can be found at:
The information regarding all incidents over the last 30 years is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
Her Majesty's Government what categories of incident the MOD records in the defence nuclear programme; and what criteria are used to decide whether an incident is recorded.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Maintaining nuclear safety within Defence is paramount and continuously assessed. It is independently regulated in accordance with legislative requirements by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and, where exempt, by the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) independent nuclear regulator, the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR). All events, incidents and near misses are recorded across the full spectrum of International Atomic Energy Agency Nuclear Event Scale ratings. Each nuclear licensed and authorised site is required to maintain records and demonstrate learning as part of the routine regulatory engagement process.
The MOD also has Ministerial Reporting Criteria for nuclear events which align with those used by the civil sector. As well as Defence Ministers, the reporting criteria requires the MOD to inform, as appropriate, the ONR, the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. In addition, any events are routinely discussed with established Local Liaison Committees. I can reassure the noble Baroness that MOD nuclear programme activities are demonstrably well within accepted civil nuclear safety standards. I can confirm that since 2000 events and incidents have not challenged these standards and that the health of the public, the environment, and our workers remain safe. The MOD is not complacent and all incidents assessed as having safety significance are fully analysed to establish the root cause and measures put in place to prevent recurrence.
Further information can be found in the annual DNSR Reports publications, and copies can be found at:
The information regarding all incidents over the last 30 years is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
Her Majesty's Government what criteria, if any, the MOD uses to assess whether an incident in the defence nuclear programme poses a risk to the public or to the environment.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Maintaining nuclear safety within Defence is paramount and continuously assessed. It is independently regulated in accordance with legislative requirements by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and, where exempt, by the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) independent nuclear regulator, the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR). All events, incidents and near misses are recorded across the full spectrum of International Atomic Energy Agency Nuclear Event Scale ratings. Each nuclear licensed and authorised site is required to maintain records and demonstrate learning as part of the routine regulatory engagement process.
The MOD also has Ministerial Reporting Criteria for nuclear events which align with those used by the civil sector. As well as Defence Ministers, the reporting criteria requires the MOD to inform, as appropriate, the ONR, the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. In addition, any events are routinely discussed with established Local Liaison Committees. I can reassure the noble Baroness that MOD nuclear programme activities are demonstrably well within accepted civil nuclear safety standards. I can confirm that since 2000 events and incidents have not challenged these standards and that the health of the public, the environment, and our workers remain safe. The MOD is not complacent and all incidents assessed as having safety significance are fully analysed to establish the root cause and measures put in place to prevent recurrence.
Further information can be found in the annual DNSR Reports publications, and copies can be found at:
The information regarding all incidents over the last 30 years is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
Her Majesty's Government whether the MOD maintains a record of incidents in the defence nuclear programme where there is a potential risk to the public or to the environment.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Maintaining nuclear safety within Defence is paramount and continuously assessed. It is independently regulated in accordance with legislative requirements by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and, where exempt, by the Ministry of Defence's (MOD) independent nuclear regulator, the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR). All events, incidents and near misses are recorded across the full spectrum of International Atomic Energy Agency Nuclear Event Scale ratings. Each nuclear licensed and authorised site is required to maintain records and demonstrate learning as part of the routine regulatory engagement process.
The MOD also has Ministerial Reporting Criteria for nuclear events which align with those used by the civil sector. As well as Defence Ministers, the reporting criteria requires the MOD to inform, as appropriate, the ONR, the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. In addition, any events are routinely discussed with established Local Liaison Committees. I can reassure the noble Baroness that MOD nuclear programme activities are demonstrably well within accepted civil nuclear safety standards. I can confirm that since 2000 events and incidents have not challenged these standards and that the health of the public, the environment, and our workers remain safe. The MOD is not complacent and all incidents assessed as having safety significance are fully analysed to establish the root cause and measures put in place to prevent recurrence.
Further information can be found in the annual DNSR Reports publications, and copies can be found at:
The information regarding all incidents over the last 30 years is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks to (1) the public, and (2) the environment, from the fire at the Atomic Weapons Establishment in August 2010.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The answer given on 21 March 2017 (HL6105) was in response to a question concerning safety improvements in the defence nuclear weapons programme. The response was in relation to radiological incidents at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), none of which have ever posed any risk to the health of the public or the environment. The incidents raised by the noble Baroness did occur; a small number of residents were evacuated in 2010 as a precautionary measure due to a fire in a non-nuclear area. I can confirm that in none of the incidents cited was it assessed that there was any radiological risk to the public.
The risk of any of these incidents recurring has been greatly reduced due to subsequent improvements to the infrastructure at AWE.
Activity at AWE sites is governed by a number of permits, authorisations, licences and consents for managing waste and discharges to the environment. AWE plc and the Ministry of Defence continuously monitor their compliance and inspections are routinely undertaken by the relevant regulatory authorities, including the Environment Agency.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks to (1) the public, and (2) the environment, from the illegal discharge of tritium into the Aldermarston Stream from the Atomic Weapons Establishment.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The answer given on 21 March 2017 (HL6105) was in response to a question concerning safety improvements in the defence nuclear weapons programme. The response was in relation to radiological incidents at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), none of which have ever posed any risk to the health of the public or the environment. The incidents raised by the noble Baroness did occur; a small number of residents were evacuated in 2010 as a precautionary measure due to a fire in a non-nuclear area. I can confirm that in none of the incidents cited was it assessed that there was any radiological risk to the public.
The risk of any of these incidents recurring has been greatly reduced due to subsequent improvements to the infrastructure at AWE.
Activity at AWE sites is governed by a number of permits, authorisations, licences and consents for managing waste and discharges to the environment. AWE plc and the Ministry of Defence continuously monitor their compliance and inspections are routinely undertaken by the relevant regulatory authorities, including the Environment Agency.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks to (1) the public, and (2) the environment, from the radioactive contamination of marshland adjacent to the Atomic Weapons Establishment following flooding in July 1989; and how that assessment has affected current policy.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The answer given on 21 March 2017 (HL6105) was in response to a question concerning safety improvements in the defence nuclear weapons programme. The response was in relation to radiological incidents at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), none of which have ever posed any risk to the health of the public or the environment. The incidents raised by the noble Baroness did occur; a small number of residents were evacuated in 2010 as a precautionary measure due to a fire in a non-nuclear area. I can confirm that in none of the incidents cited was it assessed that there was any radiological risk to the public.
The risk of any of these incidents recurring has been greatly reduced due to subsequent improvements to the infrastructure at AWE.
Activity at AWE sites is governed by a number of permits, authorisations, licences and consents for managing waste and discharges to the environment. AWE plc and the Ministry of Defence continuously monitor their compliance and inspections are routinely undertaken by the relevant regulatory authorities, including the Environment Agency.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
Her Majesty's Government whether it is the case that (1) some local residents were evacuated during the fire at the Atomic Weapons Establishment in 2010, (2) the Atomic Weapons Establishment pleaded guilty in 1999 to illegally discharging tritium into the Aldermaston Stream, and (3) the High Court found, in Blue Circle Industries Plc. v Ministry of Defence, that plutonium contamination from the Atomic Weapons Establishment damaged a nearby marshland; and if so, whether they intend to review their answer by Earl Howe on 21 March (HL6105) that "the defence nuclear programme has never experienced an incident that posed any risk to the public or the environment".
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The answer given on 21 March 2017 (HL6105) was in response to a question concerning safety improvements in the defence nuclear weapons programme. The response was in relation to radiological incidents at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), none of which have ever posed any risk to the health of the public or the environment. The incidents raised by the noble Baroness did occur; a small number of residents were evacuated in 2010 as a precautionary measure due to a fire in a non-nuclear area. I can confirm that in none of the incidents cited was it assessed that there was any radiological risk to the public.
The risk of any of these incidents recurring has been greatly reduced due to subsequent improvements to the infrastructure at AWE.
Activity at AWE sites is governed by a number of permits, authorisations, licences and consents for managing waste and discharges to the environment. AWE plc and the Ministry of Defence continuously monitor their compliance and inspections are routinely undertaken by the relevant regulatory authorities, including the Environment Agency.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which body is now responsible for nuclear weapons safety, in place of the Nuclear Weapons Safety Committee and the Warhead Safety Co-ordinating Committee.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Ultimate responsibility for nuclear weapon safety lies with the Secretary of State for Defence. Specific individuals are authorised as responsible for nuclear weapon safety for each life-cycle of the weapon: development and assembly; transport; naval base support; and deployment at sea. These individuals operate under regulation by the two nuclear safety regulators; the independent Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator and the statutory regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation. In addition, the Secretary of State receives independent advice on overall nuclear safety issues, including on nuclear weapons, from the Defence Nuclear Safety Committee, an advisory non-departmental public body.
Asked by: Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the report by the Nuclear Information Service, <i>Playing with Fire</i>, published in February, which documents 110 accidents, near misses and dangerous occurrences during the 65 years of the UK’s nuclear weapons programme, what steps they are taking to improve nuclear weapons safety.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) takes its responsibilities for the safety and security of nuclear weapons very seriously. The defence nuclear programme has never experienced an incident that has posed any risk to the public or the environment. Joint regulation by the Office for Nuclear Regulation and the independent Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator helps the Department maintain this achievement, ensuring defence sites adhere to the same high standards as the civil nuclear programme. The safety of the public, our submarine crews, the defence workforce and the protection of the environment remain the MOD's priority.